In China, a survey by HSBC indicated that manufacturing was expanding, the latest evidence that the world’s second-largest economy may be over its recent period of weakness. In Europe, a survey of manufacturing and services for the 17 countries that use the euro climbed to its highest level since June 2011.

“Europe seems to be getting its swing back, especially Germany,” said Doug Cote, chief market strategist at ING U.S. Investment Management. The figures “are not super exciting, but directionally they are good.”

The Dow climbed 66 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 14,963.74. The index is still down 3.5 percent for the month.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 14 points, or 0.9 percent, to 1,656.96, its best day since Aug. 1.

Investors also got some encouraging news on the U.S. economy Thursday.

A gauge of the economy’s health rose in July, pointing to stronger growth in the second half of the year. The Conference Board’s index of leading indicators increased 0.6 percent last month to a reading of 96. The index was unchanged in June and rose 0.2 percent in May.

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week but remains close to its lowest level in 5½ years.

Applications for first-time benefits rose 13,000, to 336,000, in the week ending Aug. 17, the Labor Department said. That’s up from 323,000 in the previous week, which was the lowest since January 2008.

“The economy in general is showing signs of modest improvement,” said Terry Sandven, chief equity strategist at U.S. Bank wealth management. “Valuation is fair, sentiment is favorable, and inflation is benign, and that’s a favorable backdrop for equities.”

Abercrombie & Fitch fell $8.27, or 18 percent, to $38.53 after the company said that declining traffic and weakness in girls clothing pushed its net income down 33 percent in the second quarter.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.90 percent from 2.89 percent Wednesday.

The Treasury yield is the highest it’s been since July 2011 and is up sharply since going as low as 1.63 percent in early May.

Rising bond yields have unsettled stock investors because they have a direct impact on the cost of borrowing for everyone, from homeowners trying to refinance their mortgages to companies trying to sell debt, making them a potential long-term drag on the economy.